Balance of Fragile Things

by Olivia Chadha

  labrīt (Latvian): good morning

  mané Sikh han (Punjabi): I am a Sikh

  mans zvirbulis (Latvian): my sparrow

  mazmeita (Latvian): granddaughter

  mazs dēls (Latvian): little boy

  meita (Latvian): daughter

  mundá (Punjabi): boy

  Nanak hosi be sach (Punjabi): roughly translated as Guru Nanak says this truth shall be forever

  neyji (Punjabi): no, but with respect

  nirvair (Punjabi): without hatred

  nirbhao (Punjabi): fearless

  pakora (Punjabi): battered and fried snacks usually made with vegetables

  págal (Punjabi): crazy person

  paranthas (Punjabi): stuffed flatbread made with whole wheat flour

  patka (Punjabi): the under-turban that Sikh boys begin to use in preschool; they can tie the larger turban, called a pagri, at any age

  pavan guru pari pita maataa dharat mahatt (Punjabi): roughly translated as air is the guru, water the father, the great earth the mother of all

  pippal (Punjabi): fig tree of India noted for great size and longevity and regarded as sacred by Buddhists

  piyar (Punjabi): love

  potrí/potrá (Punjabi): granddaughter, grandson

  putns (Latvian): bird

  puttar (Punjabi): son

  samajhna (Punjabi): understand?

  saibhang (Punjabi): the truth is self existent

  sardarni (Punjabi): female Sikh

  satnam (Punjabi): whose name is truth

  sat sri akal (Punjabi): a greeting between Sikhs, sat meaning truth, sri, an honorific, akal, the immortal being, God; the whole phrase may be roughly translated as God is the ultimate truth

  sohná (Punjabi): pretty, also means gold

  spec piragi (Latvian): small yeast rolls stuffed with bacon

  starpība (Latvian): difference

  svieki (Latvian): welcome

  sivēna galerts: (Latvian): an aspic loaf usually made with pork head, feet, and neck meat

  tabla (Punjabi): a pair of drums played by hand

  tatha (Punjabi): fabric worn around the jaw to fix the beard in place

  tatte (Punjabi): testicles

  uz redzēšanos (Latvian): goodbye

  vīratēvs (Latvian): father-in-law

  wahe guru (Punjabi): is a term most often used in Sikhism to refer to God; also a greeting, it means wonderful teacher in Punjabi

  wie ist (German): what is?

  yár (Punjabi): friend, between men

  zeķe (Latvian): sock

  Acknowledgments

  I am forever indebted to:

  My parents, Kiki and Kanwar, whose belief in me has made my path so clear even through the gathering of occasional clouds. Ranjit and Kavita Chadha for tough love, generosity, and wisdom.

  Dave Miller, for finding me in this lifetime and inspiring me in more ways than there are stars in the night sky. Kristin Salamack, a true friend and travel companion. Gina Lynch, dear friend, for answering my science-ish questions—over a beer, of course. Angie Pelekedis for generously reading early drafts, and for many conversations about the craft. That novel workshop at Binghamton University led by John Vernon, and the great bunch of writers I was fortunate to meet.

  John Vernon, your critiques and expectations made me a better writer. Susan Strehle, thank you for encouraging my global literary studies. Libby Tucker, thanks for encouraging my interest in folklore and all things haunted. My wonderful teachers at the University of Colorado, Boulder: Jeffrey De Shell, Elisabeth Sheffield, Marcia Douglas, and Sidney Goldfarb. Thanks also to the College of Creative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, for offering an amazing undergraduate program in literature and amazing teachers: John Wilson, Robyn Bell, and Caroline Allen. Thanks to the Francis X. Newman grant that partially funded my research in Latvia and my parents for funding the rest.

  In regards to sources, I must acknowledge the English-Punjabi Dictionary by Rev. W. P. Hares published by Asian Educational Services. Punjabi is a difficult language to document in Romanized English, and this was a great help. Also, the Angłu-Latviešu Vārdnīca by Zvaigzne ABC was a useful source for the Latvian terms. For firsthand accounts of the Partition, The Other Side of Silence by Urvashi Butalia was excellently informative.

  Thanks to Dr. Richard J. Sanders for putting my body back together, twice, and Dr. Stephen Annest for fixing me. Thank you, Terri Nishimoto, for being my guide through movement.

  Thank you, Norbert and Judy Retch, for sharing family histories and priceless documents. Thanks to Baji for telling and showing me your story, and to Darji whose journey inspired elements of this novel. Oma, your tales grew my imagination and my perception of the natural world.

  My publishers, Midge Raymond and John Yunker, thanks for your keen eye, kindness, and for believing in books that have something to say.

  Hansel, my Griffy, you’re my kind of weird.

  …and to those of you who are fighting the good fight to put the planet right again.

  About the Author

  Photo by Brian Mark

  Olivia Chadha began her writing career with a stint in Los Angeles writing comic book scripts. Balance of Fragile Things is Olivia’s first novel, and some of her other works have appeared in Pinyon, Damselfly Press, and Every Day Fiction.

  Olivia holds a Ph.D. from Binghamton University’s creative writing program and has taught writing at Binghamton University and the University of Colorado, Boulder.

  Like her stories and characters, Olivia brings a boundary-blurring perspective to her writing: She was born in Illinois, raised in New Jersey, and grew up in Southern California. Her family is of mixed Latvian/German and Indian descent.

  About the Cover Artist

  Photo by Pam Daniel

  Pegi Smith is an artist who works in acrylic in warm, rich colors. Her work has been profiled in Ashland Magazine, Revels, and the Ashland Daily Tidings, among others. The original painting “On the Wings of Butterflies,” which appears on the cover of Balance of Fragile Things, was completed in 2010 and is on exhibit at 38 Central in Medford, Oregon. To learn more about Pegi, visit www.PegiSmith.com.

  Ashland Creek Press is an independent publisher of books with a world view. From travel narratives to eco-literature, our mission is to publish a range of books that foster an appreciation for worlds outside our own, for nature and the animal kingdom, and for the ways in which we all connect. To keep up-to-date on new and forthcoming books, subscribe to our free newsletter at www.AshlandCreekPress.com.